How often do you use tow/haul mode

newdude · January 29, 2016

Hi guys, quick question! Im considering of buying 6.2 '15 sierra 1500 SLT with max trailering package. So my question is would it be ok for the truck to tow my '32 travel trailer which is around 7500lbs dry? In the gmc website is given that trucks with max tow package can tow up to 11700lbs but my friends are telling me that towing such a trailer will be difficult for 1500 and I need 2500...? Any comments? Thank you!

2500hd would get you much larger brakes, frame, axles and LT E load tires which would handle the weight without trying. 1500 Max Trailer will do it, but I'd suggest swapping out your tires for an LT E load for more towing stability.

Max Trailer 6.2 would tow it fine, but if you are towing it often and would like a sense of security, stability and better stopping power, the HD might be the way to go. HD will have the full float rear axle (axle shafts drive the tires while the axle takes the load) and the 1500 would be semi float axle (axle shafts not only drive but carry the weight). Both are boxed frames, HD will have more leafs in the rear for higher loads.

Dunc · January 29, 2016

What I would want is an M mode that shows the gear the tranny is actually in and lets me upshift it when I want too..... that would be great!

You don't have the M gear and the +/- rocker switch on the gear shifter lever?

Badass69 · January 29, 2016

You don't have the M gear and the +/- rocker switch on the gear shifter lever?

What you mean the fun button that does absolutely nothing. Oh right...... it allows you to select the gear it can shift up too..... that's all it does. It doesn't show you current gear the trans is actually in nor do you have any control beyond forcing manual downshifts....

gmckenzie · January 29, 2016

Hi guys, quick question! Im considering of buying 6.2 '15 sierra 1500 SLT with max trailering package. So my question is would it be ok for the truck to tow my '32 travel trailer which is around 7500lbs dry? In the gmc website is given that trucks with max tow package can tow up to 11700lbs but my friends are telling me that towing such a trailer will be difficult for 1500 and I need 2500...? Any comments? Thank you!

7500 dry could be a lot more loaded. Your trailer should list a capacity rating. Use the total of the two for guessing how heavy your trailer is. My trailer is ~6,500 dry and 8,200 total. I've actually weighed it at ~8,400 with all our crap and water in it, so it can fill up quick. Honestly, I wouldn't go much heavier than I have now with the 1/2 ton.

ewbldavis · January 29, 2016

Agree with tow/haul handling. I like the way it drives in haul mode.

Only complaint is that it tends to stay in V4 mode ALOT. A tune would fix it if I ever get around to getting a tuner

redwngr · January 30, 2016

1) if it is shifting to frequently

2) on long down grades if/when 'tow/haul grade braking' is desired

J-man67 · January 30, 2016

I use it almost everyday, but only when towing grades or stop and go traffic.

Dunc · February 1, 2016

What you mean the fun button that does absolutely nothing. Oh right...... it allows you to select the gear it can shift up too..... that's all it does. It doesn't show you current gear the trans is actually in nor do you have any control beyond forcing manual downshifts....

Does your cluster not show the gear number to the right of the "M" as seen in the attached image I took of mine?

I'm confused by the two bolded items in your quote though. For me, it shows the gear I'm in and allows me to shift up or down manually. I mean it's not like it makes it a true manual transmission but it does give more control than when in drive. Is that what you were wanting out of it, for it to be a true manual?

Badass69 · February 1, 2016

Mine says the gear selected... like yours. Now maybe Denali's show what gear the trans is in and actually follows as it shifts.... but by the looks of it i doubt it. My M mode is no different than the column shift in my 05. I can select the highest gear it can shift too and force down shifts. Like just because it says M7 doesn't mean it's in 7th... it could be in first, third... whatever... it just can't shift higher than 7th. Your truck will work the exact same way... you can't be in M and tap the plus sign and have it up shift if the truck doesn't want to allow it. Like I said... it's good for locking out afm and making it shift down.. that's all.

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redwngr · February 1, 2016

You can force a downshift in M, but not an upshift. (even for downshift it verifies that it won't overspeed before performing the shift)

It's easy to verify if the display is showing actual gear or max gear.

After setting to M8, find a place to stop the truck. If it doesn't show M1 when stopped and when restarting, then it is just showing the 'max permissible' gear.